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The Great Railroad Strike
Both wage cuts and job loss swept the country as the economy fell into a more profound depression. As railroad managers imposed the cuts, many railworks began to go on strike. The streets of Buffalo, Pittsburg, and Chicago began to fill with protesters seeking to call attention to the injustice of the industry. As a result in Pennsylvania, the governor called the military to break the strike which resulted in the burning of many railways. Ultimately, many workers were put on a do not hire list. -
Chinese Exclusion Act is Passed
As more and more immigrants were coming to the U.S. tensions and prejudices arose. The Chinese Exclusion Act was passed in order to cut off all immigration from China and deny them citizenship. This was a major law that affected several immigrants, especially on the east coast in California. All in all, the remaining immigrants were set apart and any newcomers risked imprisonment or deportation. -
Pendleton Act Passed
The Pendleton Act was passed in order to insure that government officials were selected based on credentials rather than connections. After President James A. Garfield was assassinated by one of his campaign managers hoping to gain a position, Congress passed the act. This required that the new people going into certain government positions had to take a test. Ultimately, this would test them on the subject matter of their field and ensure that they gained the position based on merit. -
Haymarket Square
Haymarket Square was a demonstration held in Chicago by the Knights of Labor. A group of anarchists, predominately German Americans, protested about both labor injustice and the dispersion of an earlier protest. When the police tried to break the crowd, a bomb was thrown. Gunfire then began to ring out. All in all, eight anarchists were convicted of the bomb-throwing despite knowing who threw it. -
"The Gospel of Wealth" is published
As the late 1800s was approaching many monopolies had been formed in major industries which resulted in very rich owners known as robber barons. Andrew Carnegie, a leading steel industrialist, wrote the "Gospel of Wealth" which detailed that the top percent of wealth should give back. He started from humble roots as a Scottish-American factory boy which gave him this piece of mind. Nevertheless, this would model the importance of charity work and the use of money for good. -
Hull House is Established
Several immigrants coming to American cities found themselves lost without work or a place to stay. Two women, Jane Addams, and Ellen Gates Starr established the Hull House in Chicago to help the working class and women. Clothes, food, and shelter were provided to the people that stayed in the shelter. All in all, the greatest effect this had was not only a communal helping hand but a deeper understanding by upper-class white women of the hardships of those in the lower classes. -
Sherman Antitrust Act is Passed
As the economy faced more challenges of a lack of competition due to monopolies, Congress sought a way to subside this issue. As a result, the Sherman Antitrust Act was passed to prohibit contracts between businesses that would restrict trade between both states and nations. Businesses within a similar field could not combine so that an industry would have multiple parties involved instead of one. Nevertheless, this would aid the economy by creating more oportunites for small buisnesses. -
NAWSA is Established
Women's suffrage had taken on a whole new role in the lives of the individual towards the end of the 19th century. NAWSA united many suffragettes such as Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Alice Blackwell in the fight for women's rights. To elaborate, they strongly supported the creating of the Fourteenth Amendment and Fifteenth Amendment which secure their rights to vote. All in all, the goals of NAWSA would change overtime but the underlying goal of equality would remain the same. -
City Beautiful Movement Begins
Cities were becoming evermore prominent in the lives of people. They provided many services and jobs to people which lead to the creation of mass transit systems. To elaborate, the use of mass transit systems, landscaping, architecture such as skyscrapers, and art brought a new aesthetic to life in the cities. Tenement housing was being reformed, especially in Chicago, to be more suitable. Altogether, this brought a new meaning to the purpose of cities in people's lives and their functionality. -
Plessy v. Ferguson Rulling
Plessy v. Ferguson was a court case that challenged state-imposed Jim Crow laws with the notion of segregation. Homer Plessy, an African American man, bought a first-class ticket but was punished for not sitting in the black trail car. This issue was brought to the Supreme Court as the mistreatment was seen as inequal by some and just by hostile whites. Ultimately, it was ruled by the Supreme Court as acceptable on the bases of "separate but equal" ideology when it was in fact not equal at all. -
Williams v. Mississippi
Henry Williams had been indicted for murder under an all white jury as only voters could serve on jury duty. He then argued that this was discriminatory as literacy tests and poll taxes complicated the voting process for blacks. Poll taxes and literacy tests had been used when deeming individuals as able to vote and were upheld by the Supreme Court. These specifically targeted low class whites and African Americans as many of them could not read and did not have access to proper schooling. -
Spain Declares War on US
As the liberal government of Spain rose limited power was given to those in Cuba. This caused a civil war in Cuba as the Spanish living there rejected this offer while Cuban rebels wanted full independence. In addition, the United States had a naval base in Cuba and a suspicious sinking of the USS Maine led to war. All in all, the US provided the Teller Amendment that ensured that Cuba would remain free of American occupation during and after the war. -
Hawaii is Annexed
Hawaii was under great turmoil as a result of neighboring groups being under tension. Furthermore, Queen Liliuokalani had not produced an heir which would bring another issue to the peace of Hawaii. Since the US relied on Hawaii for both Naval and export inquiries, they saw an opportunity to secure that control and, in their eyes, help Hawaii. Nonetheless, the peaceful resistance by the queen was most notably shown through her book, yet Hawaii became a state. -
Battle of Manila, Philippines
After the United States Annexed the Philippines, war broke out as they thought that they would be independent after the Spanish were expelled. The Battle of Manila was the largest battle of this war and involved Philippine Rebels and U.S. troops. To elaborate, when it became evident that the Americans would not be leaving the capital, the rebels began to fire. Nonetheless, this was a deadly battle for both sides and resulted in in a loss for the Filipinos. -
National Child Labor Committee Founded
Muckraking journalism had exposed the harsh conditions of work that children had been subjected to within factories. Based in New York, the NCLC was founded to protect the lives and rights of children working. It also advocated for their education as an important part to the development of a child. Their main practice was to study laws and draft new ones that could be passed to aid children in the labor force. Nevertheless, their call for legislative action brought reform to child labor laws. -
Building of Panama Canal Begins
Seeing as the US is a bicoastal nation, an easier way of exporting goods from the East to the West needed to be developed. Theodore Roosevelt proposed the building of the Panama Canal by working with the country of Panama for their independence. The promise was that they would be paid for the land and compensated annually while also remaining an independent nation. In summation, the Panama Canal would open up trade traffic and help build the global economy. -
Theodore Roosevelt is Elected
Theodore Roosevelt had been a household name in America long before his presidency began. He had served as a secretary to the Navy yet he stepped down to form the rough riders who would aid in the Spanish American war. As had been known as an avid outdoors man, his promise of national parks, laws in aiding the cleanliness of cities, and international policy attracted support. Nevertheless, his being elected as president would mark the start of a prominent presidency. -
San Francisco Earthquake
It was a quiet morning in San Francisco when an earthquake hit the city at 7:00 am. This earthquake was so strong that it destroyed the majority of the city and lead to nearly 3,000 deaths. Fires were ignited all over the city which burned several blocks of housing and business. In other words, this became known as the most deadly earthquake in United States history. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
A series of photos and documentaries were released by muckraker journalists which caught the attention of Theodore Roosevelt. Meat shops had been recorded to have things get stuck in processing mills including human limbs. In addition, there was little to no oversight of food being expired and then resold in order to save money. In conclusion, Theodore Roosevelt passed the act when he became president to insure the health of Americans and restrict food processing plants to be more conscious. -
Root-Takarhira Agreement is Made
Theodore Roosevelt was looking for a way to secure trade in the Pacific while avoiding conflict with Japan. As a result, an agreement was signed between Elihu Root and Takahira Kagoro, the two countries ambassadors. The purpose of this agreement was the upholding of the Open-door policy in China while also sharing the Pacific. All in all, this allowed for the United States to continue its influence in China while Japan annexed Korea. -
St. Louis Blues is Released
Blues had become an important part of city culture and brought together people that were typically separated due to race. To do into detail, the Blues started as an African American music medium that originated from the deep south. It was soon adopted by whites everywhere and became extremely popular in urban areas. "St. Louis Blues" is a popular example that talks about the sorrows of hard work which spoke to the younger urban generation. -
Great Migration Begins
Great opportunities for African Americans were on the rise as many white men in the north were deployed overseas leaving jobs open. This opened economic centers to the Great Migration which was the mass movement of African Americans from the oppressive south to the opportunistic north. Although discrimination was prominent, many of the jobs payed better than the crop work of the south and gave them a space to expand their culture. Nevertheless, this would have a lasting impact on demographic. -
Zimmerman Telegram Interception
For the majority of World War II, the U.S. had been isolated from the war in an attempt to remain uninvolved. When the British troops intercepted a telegram between Germany and Mexico, they warned the US. The contents of the telegram were the promise from Germany to Mexico that they would give them Texas if they helped attack the US from the south. All in all, this became known as the Zimmerman telegram which would be a motivation for the United States to join the war and help the Allies. -
Russian Revolution Begins
The overthrow of the royal family by the Bolshevik party of Russia symbolized the beginning of a communist spread. Vladimir Lenin would be the face of the movement and would be a dangerous name in the United States. The United States was hesitant to side with Russia in World War Two as this revolution was occurring simultaneously. Nonetheless, the fall to communism would cause great suspicion in the US which would result in several accusations amount citizens. -
Sedition Act is Passed
Rights of the American citizens were in danger as the urgency of war brought on the Sedition Act. To explain, this act limited the speech of citizens by releasing propaganda that warned the country of espionage and brought the moral up. Citizens would be punished if they criticized the army, disapprove of the government, or openly supported other countries in the war. All in all, this is now recognized as an over step in power, yet greatly affected the lives of citizens under war. -
Treaty of Versailles is Signed
After a long-fought war, it was time to bring an official end to the fighting. The Allied Powers, France, Britain, and others, met with Germany to sign an agreement to cease battle. In addition, compensation was demanded from Germany in order to reimburse for the war damages. As a result of the pressure from the Allied powers, Germany accepted the harsh conditions of the treaty which would damage their economy greatly. -
Hollywood Rises to Fame
Hollywood had been the leading presence of cinema in the United States for several decades, yet it had now been recognized on the world stage. People, specifically in America, had more time to spend on leisure activities which boosted the money made by the film industry. The roaring twenties were portrayed through film by way of speakeasies, flappers, and mob activities. Ultimately, this would have a major impact on the media and culture as younger generations watched these films. -
League of Nations is Created
Woodrow Wilson had to find a way to bring countries together to ensure that a war such as WWI would not happen again. The league of Nations was the first example of Global Government and was built on the cooperation of countries. The United States did not join, however, and the league eventually failed as a result of a new rise of nationalism. All in all, the legacy of the League of Nations would feed into what is modern day United Nations. -
Harlem Renaissance New York Peak
Harlem, New York had long become a hub of African American culture since the great migration. The population had nearly tripled in 1929 as the result of a booming black community. Jazz music and swing dancing had not only become popular in black communities but across the whole country. Nonetheless, this was a beautiful period of both artistic and intellectual growth in the African American community. -
Smoot-Hawley Tariff Passed
America was in the greatest economic decline it had ever experienced: The Great Depression. In an effort to boost the economy and bring people to work, Herbert Hoover enacted the Smoot-Hawley Tariff which placed higher tariffs on an already difficult agricultural setting. Despite the recommendations of farmers and economists, he signed the tariff. Nevertheless, this contributed to his lack of popularity and caused immense struggle in the international economic climate. -
Germany Falls to Hitler
After a deep economic decline, Germany had been in a delicate state which Hitler used to campaign with. He first rose in popularity within his party which got him the position of chancellor of Germany. Very quickly, the Treaty of Versailles was being broken through military expansion and the alliance of Germanic countries. Ultimately, this caused concern for the Allied powers and the United States. -
FDR is Inaugurated
Franklin Delano Roosevelt ran a successful campaign and was inaugurated with big plans. To begin, he started his historic "100 days" of work to please the American people after their disappointment with President Hoover. Roosevelt's policies would be enacted to provide relief, reform, and recovery to the American people struggling during the Depression. Nonetheless, this gave people a president that was doing something to boost the economy and reconstruct the banking system that had failed them. -
Indian Reorganization Act Passed
The Indian Reorganization Act was passed to review the state of life on reservations. Long had been the discrimination of Native Americans within the United States which lead to the split of their homogeneous tribes. This is why it was recommended that they be returned to their respective homelands and aid be sent to keep tribes together. In short, the ideas of this act would later be put into play of other policies and the documentation of native life would play an important role. -
Dust Bowl Ends
A massive drought had long plagued the already arid lands of farmers in the Southwest region. High temperatures and the over farming of land lead to dust to accumulate which was carried around by high winds. As this took place during the depression, it further damaged the ecological state of the United States and made food scarce and expensive. All in all, the Dust Bowl subsided in 1939, yet the damage to the soil is was an example of reform needed for future farming. -
Pearl Harbor
In order to weaken the American military power, the Japanese launched an attack on a naval base in Pearl Harbor Hawaii. The attack started at just before eight am on a Sunday when most officers were resting. Bombs were dropped on ships such as the USS Arizona which cost the Navy both time and money to reproduce. Several naval officers were killed that day along with a few civilians in surrounding areas. Ultimately, this event is what would bring the US into World War II. -
GI Bill is Passed
Military members had called for reform as they often found themselves at a loss when returning home from active duty. Franklin Delano Roosevelt passed the GI Bill to insure that service members would have both education and housing upon their return. College and other forms of higher education was not within reach, without cost, as service members began to think of their future after deployment. In conclusion, this bill serves today as service members obtain free college and other benefits. -
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Dies
Throughout his presidency, Franklin Roosevelt suffered from many medical complications. By the start of 1945, it was evident that his health was on the decline in photographs. During the war, his blood pressure had been high and he had long suffered heart failure. In February, he set out to meet with Churchill and Stahlin which would ultimately be his last broadcasted diplomacy effort. At last, he visited his home in Warm Springs, Georgia where he suffered a brain hemorrhage and passed away. -
Hiroshima is Dropped
Japan had been America's main concern following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The United States had been looking for a way to quickly end the war and force Japan to come to a cease. As a result, the city of Hiroshima was chosen to be the target for the dropping of an atomic bomb. This city was completely eradicated and Japan surrendered their war efforts. In summary, Hiroshima was the first atomic bomb dropped and hastened the end of World War II making it a significant point in history. -
World Bank is Established
War had torn apart economies all across the world and a World Bank was a solution to give aid to struggling countries. Europe specifically was struggling as many air raids had ruined both farm lands and economic centers. In response, a convention in Washington D.C. was called where twenty-one countries met to convene on the plans. All in all, this would go on to aid developing countries as they built their economies up. -
Baby Boom Begins
After World War II, many couples got married and wanted to make up for the lost time. This created a massive baby boom and the birth rate rose to an all-time high. In response to the birth rate, hospitals, schools, and other public amenities began to grow in size. Medicine and public health advancements were also a major part of their lives as important drugs such as penicillin were introduced. Nevertheless, they would go on to play an important cultural role and make up a large workforce. -
Rebel Without a Cause is Released
Teenagers were emerging as a cultural focal point in both the media and in trends. "Rebel Without a Cause" staring a James Dean is a movie showing what a glorified middle class teenager's life was like. It showed both their favorite past times, such as driving with friends, as well their struggles when dealing with conformity. Ultimately, Hollywood portrayed the lives of teenagers back to them as this was a favorite pass time of theirs. -
Greensboro Sit-ins
Many cafes were segregated and only allowed whites to sit in. In order to draw attention to this issue, four black college students sat in a Woolworth store and waited to be served. As a result, they were harassed by groups of whites who threw food and tossed drinks on their heads. As a result, several students were inspired by this act, and the desegregation of the drugstore was achieved. -
March on Washington
A long-planned march on Washington took place in August in order to show support for Kennedy's Civil Rights bill. The march had been planned by Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin but Martin Luther King became the main event. Over 250,000 people marched to the Lincoln Memorial to listen to the speeches and hear King's main event speech. All in all, this march would become a major symbol of the Civil Rights movement. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Communism was inching closer to the south of Vietnam which called the U.S. in to aid the democratic south. When the Maddox, a US destroyer ship, was shot at with a northern torpedo conflict began. Lyndon Johnson went to Congress to get the funds and permissions necessary to engage in war. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was signed to give total power to the president to speed up the war process. Nevertheless, this was terminated after the invasion of Cambodia took place. -
Operation Rolling Thunder Begins
Lydon B. Johnson was hoping for a final move to end the Vietnam War. To accomplish this, he launched Operation Rolling Thunder in order to weaken the ground and send in the troops with a better chance of winning. This was such a high frequency of bombing that more bombs were dropped in this operation than the total dropped by the Allied powers in World War II. In summation, this operation lasted three years and devastated the northern countryside. -
Medicare is Created
Older Americans had struggled with finding ways to get proper care as they aged such as access to prescriptions. Medicare was passed under the Lyndon B Johnson administration and provided coverage to aging Americans through employment plans. For example, insurance was provided for hospital stays, physicians, and medicine. Nevertheless, this coverage would eventually be extended to all Americans not just the elderly. -
Watergate Scandal Breaks
In order to get information on the Democratic Party, five burglars broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters which was based in a Watergate office. When Nixon then reacted by trying to cover up the scandal in order to salvage his campaign. Soon the news broke out and a series of phone calls were leaked which would later be known as "the Nixon Tapes." As a result, Nixon was impeached and then decided to resign to avoid the official title of impeachment. -
Camp David Accords Signed
Following their displacement after World War II, Israelis had long awaited recognition of Israel as a country. This made it a western and Middle eastern issue as many western nations recognized Israel as a country while Islamic nations did not. President Carter brought the Egyptian President and Israeli minister together to formulate a series of political agreements that would change this. In summation, the peace treaty would allow for a change in the political climate of the Middle East. -
Iran Hostage Crisis Starts
Iran had long been at odds with the US as they saw the US embassy as a symbol of support for the Shah. When the Shah was hospitalized in the United States, students thought to take action and jumped the fence of the embassy. They proceeded to take multiple Americans hostage which fell back onto the Carter administration. Nevertheless, this issue lasted for 444 days and was Carter's top priority on his last day of office. -
Attack of Marines in Lebanon
United States Marines had been stationed in Lebanon amidst a civil war when terror struck. A Lebanese terrorist drove a truck into the Marine headquarters where the bomb the detonated and killed over 200 personnel. Citizens of the United States were absolutely outraged and called for war against Lebanon. Despite the unpopularity of this decision, Reagan's administration turned a war ship around and focused their attention in Nicaragua thus faltering his popularity rates.